Remarks in July 2006
Delivered by Mr. Shigenobu Kato, Ambassador of Japan, on July 27, 2006 on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Training Program for Iraqis “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Skill for Cultural Heritage”
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the Government of Japan, it is the honor to be here today for the opening ceremony of the “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Skill for Cultural Heritage” for Iraqi people in cooperation with the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and UNESCO.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere and warm welcome to the Iraqi participants who have passed through many difficulties to reach here today.
The Governments of Japan and Jordan have worked together as important partners, sharing the objective of peace and prosperity in the Middle East region. One aspect of the cooperation between two friendly countries is training programs for Iraqi people.
In the quest of stability and prosperity in this region, Japan has offered its full support for the reconstruction of Iraq by means of not only implementing its financial assistance package totaling up to 5 billion US dollars and humanitarian reconstruction activities in Al-Muthanna but also providing in harmony with the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan the Iraqi people with training courses in various fields such as electricity, water resource management, education, and culture.
Till this day, the number of Iraqi experts who have successfully upgraded necessary skills and knowledge through the training programs is more than 500, and they are now playing an important role in reconstructing and developing the country in difficulties.
I am very pleased and proud to announce the opening of this training course, which is to follow the successful course organized last year under the same title which aimed at improving the skills and know-how for preserving and managing the archaeological sites with valuable help of the Government of Jordan and UNESCO.
Mr. Koichiro Matsuura of Japan, Director General of the UNESCO and once my boss in the Foreign Ministry of Japan, quoted frequently the famous words in the preamble of the Constitution of the UNESCO, “That since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.” Because of the deep reflection on the misery of the World War II, this preamble aroused a strong response in Japanese people and Japan joined in the UNESCO in 1951, which was just five years before Japan was admitted to the United Nations in 1956.
Japan was reconstructed from ruins and ashes. I strongly believe richness in culture and tradition contributed to Japan’s postwar rehabilitation as its backbone, along with the political stability and economic development.
Iraq is also very rich in culture and tradition. It was the cradle of one of the four ancient civilizations and center where the Greek legacies were shared with the Muslim scholars in Bayt Al-Hikma or House of Wisdom. Conserving the valuable historical and cultural heritage in Iraq shares the same philosophy with the UNESCO preamble and provides the Iraqi citizens with moral strength toward the difficulties.
It is no doubt that once stability comes back to the country, so richly endowed with the historical legacies and with the gifted people calls flood of tourists and investment in search of economic opportunities in the tourism sector. I know it sounds a daydream for the time being but the Japanese people will continue to do our utmost effort with Iraqi friends and other friends of the international community to turn the dream into reality.
It is my hope that the course will provide the Iraqi experts with the latest technique and expertise in order to preserve the historical treasure not only for Iraqi people but also for all mankind.
The Iraqi participants here are to fulfill the great and challenging mission. However, I assure all Iraqi participants that the Government of Japan will continue to make every effort to support Iraqi friends who are facing many difficulties in their country, in cooperation with the international community.
On this occasion, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Government of Jordan and UNESCO for their great contribution to making this course feasible by providing excellent experts and training facilities. This course marks one of the fruits of cordial cooperation between the Governments of Japan and Jordan, and UNESCO.
In closing, I take this opportunity to express my wish for great success of this training course and for good stay in Jordan to all participants.
Thank you
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